The Nationals and Cardinals will once again have deal with the "Sun Monster" in Game 4 of the NLDS, but if the series requires a fifth and decisive game, the two teams will finally get a chance to play in primetime.

Major League Baseball announced starting times for the rest of the series this afternoon, revealing that Game 4 is tentatively scheduled to begin at 4:07 p.m. Thursday, with a potential Game 5 scheduled for 8:37 p.m. Friday.

There's a strong chance the start time for Game 4, however, will be pushed back one hour to 5:07 p.m., a change that will be enacted if the Tigers clinch their ALDS against the A's without needing a Game 5. Detroit leads that series 2-0 entering Game 3 late tonight in Oakland, with Game 4 late tomorrow night.

Thus, the first four games of the Nationals' first-ever playoff series will all begin in daylight, with Game 3 tomorrow afternoon scheduled for a 1:07 p.m. start. The early first pitch and the forecast of clearRead more »

@Feel,I don't that it did, but I'm grateful. My daughter and I were caught at that 13-inning game against the Barves when they shut it down in the 10th inning. We couldn't leave. Ended up walking a mile up New Jersey Ave. to Constitution to catch the 30 bus to Friendship Heights. Then a $8 cab to where my car was at the Metro. She was a trooper. But I felt I was in Davenport, Iowa. That's how bush it was.

Score one for Living Social. Nice PR coup and didn't have to pay, or even risk, a penny. MLB made it clear they didn't care one whit about DC's metro issue, so I doubt that factored into the decision. Very interesting that they didn't make the O's -Yankees game the primetime game on Friday though. Sharing the wealth a little?

Some Imaginary Friends will be meeting up at the picnic benches behind section 312 about an hour before the game tomorrow. If you're going, and can stop by, please do! It's always so fun to put faces to names. Hugging optional. Mark Z., we know you'll probably be working but if you can stop by, we'd love a Celebrity Visit as well.GYFNG!!!!!!!!

222, I prefer to think they know that Gio will be the Cy Young winner and that people will want to see him pitch, even if they haven't yet announced the winners.That's my theory and I'm sticking to it.

Section 222 said…"Score one for Living Social. Nice PR coup and didn't have to pay, or even risk, a penny."The potential Game 5 on Friday would almost definitely run past normal metro closing time. Same goes for any potential NLCS games if we advance.

The potential Game 5 on Friday would almost definitely run past normal metro closing time.No, because normal Metro closing time on Friday nights is 2 am (or is it 3 am? I forget.) No subsidy needed from LivingSocial or anyone else.Now, just because Metro stays open that late on Friday nights doesn't mean they don't start rolling up the sidewalks much earlier with single tracking and station closings for maintenance. And they don't even offer the option to anyone to pay them not to do that.

bowdenball — Metro operates until 2 am on Friday and Saturday nights. Unless there's a long rain delay — and forecast for Friday night is clear — it would take a REALLY long extra inning game to come close to that time. NLCS weeknight games would be another matter.

Haven't read through all of the postings since yesterday (so forgive me if this has already been discussed), but is anyone else worried that the Cardinals are now described as fastball-killers and we have a lefthander that throws about 80% fastballs as our Game 4 starter??? If we knew we couldn't get the Cards out with fastballs, perhaps Lannan was a better option than Det. Hope I'm wrong….Can't wait to be at the Park at 10:30!!

Good point bowdenball. Don't worry, I haven't given up. In fact, I've spent thousands of dollars on tickets for my group on the NLCS!Still, Living Social has to feel good about how the NLDS played out. At least we know that Game 2 and Game 7 of the NLCS will start at night, since the ALCS does not have games that night. And Games 1 and 6 will be on Sundays. So no one will have to miss work to attend the NLCS. And the World Series games will all be at night.See, I really haven't given up on us.

The Nats used to be this obscure team that people knew nothing about. Now it's been constant crap about Strasburg, every time Bryce breathes someone is watching – just very strange to go from one extreme to the other. Just heard a teaser " should we be worried about Bryce Harper". He has been in the majors for, what five months? He is 19? I think if he can function at all in this heady environment and not pee his pants at this point he is fine. Out of all the guys on that roster, the pressure should not be on his shoulders. He's been robbed a few times, fouled off, taken pitches. More than some of the guys have done ( Espi). He is holding up every bit as well as Jayson Werth at this point, too. This is post season training school for him. No one should be expecting him to carry the team.

I agree swami. Bryce has had some good at bats, and his hit yesterday was ripped. Greg Ampsinger on MLB last night was suggesting that because Bryce swung at 22 out of 28 pitches in his five at bats yesterday, he must be anxious. The other guys were like, "He saw 28 pitches in 5 at bats? That's just fine. He's working the counts." I'm expecting him to explode at some point in this series, but you're absolutely right that he shouldn't be expected to carry the team.

Swami, Espi's last couple of at bats were also much better.The ball Jay caught was absolutely ripped and is likely a triple 8 times out of 10. Zim has also hit the ball hard the last 3 times and Desi and Morse also look ok. Werth had a game leadoff walk and a single in game 2 and Suzuki had a clutch hit in game 1. Mostly we haven't pitched as well as we have all year and St.Louis is one tough opponent; maybe the toughest one we could have drawn.

LoveDaNats said… Looking forward to finally meeting some more Insiders at the meet up. Great idea. How will we know us? I can totally see me crashing some poor family's picnic.Just pick the most dysfunctional looking family and you'll have no problems.

Can somebody just make a little card that says "Nats Insider"? That'd be easy. I'm not in 313 tomorrow, but 220 instead. But I'll be coming up for a cheer-coordination meeting with the NATS-cheer guys. I'll be wearing red.